Soft contact lens cleaning and storage system

ABSTRACT

A unique container system for holding and cleaning a soft contact lens over a period of time. The system includes a container base having a substantially dry cavity. A hydrophilic fixation and cleaning member is wetted and disposed within the substantially dry cavity. The contact lens is placed on the hydrophilic fixation member and held in a desired orientation while remaining hydrated due to the moisture from the hydrophilic fixation member. Also, a cover is disposed over the substantially dry cavity to enclose the hydrophilic fixation member and the contact lens during storage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to contact lenscontainers, and particularly to a unique, soft contact lens holder thatutilizes a hydrophilic member to maintain the contact lens in an optimalstate during periods of shipment and/or storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A variety of contact lens cases currently are known andavailable. Some of the contact lens packages are used for shipping thecontact lenses to a desired recipient, such as an end user or optician.Other contact lens holders are designed for use by the contact wearer.These latter holders or cases permit the contact lens to be stored overperiods of time, e.g. through the night, when the individual is notwearing the contact lens.

[0003] Regardless of the particular contact lens container style, suchcontainers typically include a well or wells for receiving at least onecontact lens as well as sufficient saline solution to submerge eachcontact lens. Generally, the well is enclosed by a cover that issufficiently sealed to prevent loss of the saline solution.

[0004] The advent of soft contact lenses, such as daily wear ordisposable contact lenses, has made it imperative, that the lens bemaintained in a moist or hydrated condition during periods of non-use.Without the moistening liquid, the thin plastic material of the contactlens rapidly dries and ultimately becomes unusable.

[0005] Simply placing a contact lens in a well with an appropriatesaline-based solution, however, can be problematic. For example, the useof sufficient saline-based solution to maintain a contact lens submergedrequires sufficiently large packaging to accommodate both the contactlens and the well of contact lens solution. This adds to the size andthe weight of the contact lens package, which is disadvantageous,particularly for the distribution of large numbers of contact lenses.Furthermore, the use of liquid within the contact lens holder can createmessy spills during opening of the package and/or application of thecontact lens to an eye of an individual.

[0006] Using wells of saline-based solution also creates difficulty inlocating and removing the contact lens from its container when a weareris ready to apply the lens. Furthermore, the size of the well necessaryto contain the liquid and contact lens, as well as the free-flowingmotion of the liquid, permits inadvertent reorientation of the contactlens while in the container. For example, the contact lens may becomeinverted in the container, thereby inducing the wearer to apply thecontact to his or her eye in an inverted or reverse orientation. Thiscan lead to irritation of the eye and discomfort to the wearer.Additionally, the soft material of the contact lenses can become foldedwhich leads to added difficulty in applying the contact lens to an eye,and also can result in damage to the contact lens.

[0007] It would be advantageous to have a contact lens packaging systemthat would maintain a contact lens in a moist state without incurringthe size and use disadvantages of maintaining the contact lens in a wellof liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention features a package for holding a contactlens over a period of time without permitting dehydration of the contactlens. The package includes a container base having a substantially drycavity. A hydrophilic fixation member is disposed in the substantiallydry cavity. Additionally, a contact lens is disposed in thesubstantially dry cavity. An appropriate liquid is used to wet thehydrophilic fixation member, which absorbs the liquid. A cover enclosesthe hydrophilic fixation member and the contact lens within thesubstantially dry cavity.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, a contact lenscontainer system is provided for maintaining a contact lens in a usablestate during a period of storage. The container system includes a sealedcontainer having an internal cavity. A hydrophilic member and a contactlens are disposed in the internal cavity. Additionally, a moisteningagent is applied to the hydrophilic member.

[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, a method isprovided for storing a contact lens. The method includes preparing acontainer with a cavity of sufficient size to receive a contact lens.The method also includes placing a moisture absorbent member in thecavity, and moistening the absorbent member. Furthermore, the methodincludes enclosing the contact lens within the cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention will hereafter be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote likeelements, and:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a top view of a contact lens container system, accordingto one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a front view of the contact lens container systemillustrated in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate contact lens containersystem, according to another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a front view of the contact lens container systemillustrated in FIG. 4;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 ofFIG. 4;

[0018]FIG. 7 illustrates the cleaning of a contact lens using ahydrophilic material; and

[0019]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of thecontact lens container system illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, a package or containersystem 10 is illustrated according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The exemplary container is used for storing at least one, andtypically two contact lenses. Container 10 includes a container base 12that has an elongate lower portion 14 from which a pair of generallyannular walls 16 extend upwardly. A cover 18 is connected to eachannular wall 16.

[0021] Internally, the elongate lower portion 14, annular walls 16 andcovers 18 cooperate to create a pair of internal cavities for receivingand separating, for instance, the left contact lens and the rightcontact lens of an individual wearer. Both cavities or wells are largelythe same, and the description below of an individual well appliesequally to the other.

[0022] Referring generally to FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view takengenerally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 is provided. Container base 12includes at least one and preferably a pair of wells 20, each designedfor receiving an individual contact lens 22, typically a soft contactlens. Preferably, well 20 is a substantially dry cavity. Substantiallydry cavity refers to the lack of free-flowing liquid that wouldotherwise reside in the well of a contact lens holding package. Thepresent, unique packaging system does not require the submersion ofcontact lens 22, even when contact lens 22 comprises a thin plastic,daily-wear or disposable contact lens.

[0023] Contact lens 22 is maintained in its moistened or hydrated stateby a hydrophilic member 24 disposed in the substantially dry cavity orwell 20. Hydrophilic member 24 is designed to hold or retain a liquid 26when wetted with the liquid. An exemplary liquid 26 is a saline-basedsolution, such as a buffered saline solution used for the conventionalsubmersion of contact lenses within conventional contact lenscontainers. Hydrophilic member 24 transmits, by capillary action,sufficient moisture to soft contact lens 22 to maintain the contact lensin a soft and supple condition ready for application to the eye of awearer. The saline-based solution also may include surfactants and othercleaning agents or sterilizing agents to help maintain lens 22 in adesirable condition.

[0024] Preferably, hydrophilic member 24 also serves as a contact lensfixation member that holds contact lens 22 in a desired position.Certain materials have an affinity for the polymeric material of softcontact lens 22 and tend to grip or hold the lens in a desired positionwithin well 20. Additionally, hydrophilic member 24 may have a contouredsurface 28 to facilitate the holding of contact lens 22 in a desiredorientation.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment, hydrophilic member 24 comprises asponge material 30. It has been determined that a preferred spongematerial for holding and maintaining contact lens 22 in a usable stateis a Merocel™ sponge material, available from the Solan company, havinga place of business at 6743 Southpoint Drive North in Jacksonville, Fla.The Merocel™ sponge material works well, because it is lint free,chemically stable and readily holds liquid 26. The Merocel™ material isable to transfer moisture to contact lens 22 by capillary action whileholding contact lens 22 in a desired orientation because of its affinityfor the contact lens material. By using Merocel™ sponge material,hydrophilic member 24 is able to maintain contact lens 22 in aready-to-use state over substantial storage periods of weeks, months ormore depending on overall package design.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment, hydrophilic member 24 is affixed ata desired location within dry cavity 20 so that contact lens 22 may beheld at a desired position or orientation. For example, the hydrophilicmember 24 may be affixed by an adhesive 31, such as a glue or a wax, toa lower, interior surface 32 of container base 12. Alternatively, thehydrophilic member 24 can be connected to an interior surface 34 ofcover 18.

[0027] Furthermore, it also may be desirable to provide a secondhydrophilic member 36. In the preferred embodiment, second hydrophilicmember 36 also is a sponge material, most preferably the Merocel™ spongematerial discussed above. As illustrated, second hydrophilic member 36is affixed to interior surface 34 of cover 18 such that contact lens 22is pressed between hydrophilic member 24 and second hydrophilic member36 when cover 18 is placed over its corresponding annular wall 16.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, cover 18 is threadably engagedwith annular wall 16 via a threaded region 38. Preferably, hydrophilicmember 24 and second hydrophilic member 36 engage contact lens 22 duringthe threading of cover 18 into and out of engagement with container base12. The Merocel™ sponge material has a substantial cleaning action whenrubbed against contact lens 22. Thus, proteins, mucus and othercontaminants are removed from contact lens 22 during assembly anddisassembly of container 10. Preferably, the threaded engagement ofcover 18 with container base 12 also provides a sufficient seal toprevent dissemination of liquid 26 to the exterior of container 10.

[0029] Referring generally to FIG. 4, 5 and 6, an alternate embodimentof container/package 10 is illustrated and labeled as package 50. Inthis contact lens container system, a container base 52 is designed tohold at least one contact lens 54, such as a daily-wear or disposablecontact lens. Again, container base 52 includes a substantially drycavity 56 that is enclosed by a cover 58. In this embodiment, theexemplary cover 58 is a peelable style cover that is adhered tocontainer base 52 by heat sealing or an appropriate adhesive to seal andenclose contact lens 54 within cavity 56. This type of package orcontainer 50 might readily be used for shipping contact lenses to adesired recipient.

[0030] As illustrated best in FIG. 6, a hydrophilic member 60 isdisposed in cavity 56. Hydrophilic member 60 is wetted with a liquid 62,such as a saline solution appropriate for contact lens 54. Preferably,hydrophilic member 60 is a sponge material 64, such as the Merocel™sponge material.

[0031] Although hydrophilic member 60 can be loosely disposed withincavity 56, it is preferred that member 60 be affixed at a specific,desired location within dry cavity 56. By affixing hydrophilic member60, the positioning and orientation of contact lens 54 may be controlledfor ready retrieval and/or application by the contact lens wearer. Theoptimal location of hydrophilic member 60 will vary with package designand the desired functionality of package 50. By way of example, however,sponge material 64 may be affixed to an interior surface 66 along thelower portion of cavity 56, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As discussedabove, hydrophilic member 60 also may include a contoured surface 68,such as a surface designed to match either the convex or concavecurvature of contact lens 54.

[0032] Furthermore, package 50 may include a second hydrophilic member70. For example, second hydrophilic member 70 may be attached to aninterior surface 72 of cover 58 to engage contact lens 54 on a surfaceopposite sponge material 64. Second hydrophilic member 70 preferably isformed from the Merocel™ material. Both hydrophilic member 60 and secondhydrophilic member 70 may be attached to their respective surfaces by anadhesive 73, such as a glue or a wax.

[0033] Optionally, package 50 may include a second cavity 74 designed tocontain a cleaning material 76 that may be utilized in scrubbing contactlens 54. Preferably, cleaning material 76 comprises a sheet of material,such as sponge material. In the embodiment illustrated, cover 58 simplyis peeled further to expose cavity 74 such that cleaning material 76 maybe removed. Additionally, cleaning material 76 may be wetted with adesired liquid, such as a saline-based solution or a solution containingsurfactants, to facilitate the cleaning of contact lens 54.

[0034] A preferred exemplary cleaning material 76 is a Merocel™ sponge78. The Merocel™ sponge 78 may be formed in a sheet, such as the sheetillustrated in FIG. 7. Upon removal, the sheet of Merocel™ sponge 78 maybe wrapped around contact lens 54 and gripped by a user, e.g. between athumb 80 and a forefinger 82. It has been determined that the Merocel™sponge material works extremely well in removing proteins, mucus andother contaminants from contact lens 54 without damaging the contactlens. Sheets of other sponge material having the desired stiffness toremove contaminants without damaging the contact lens may also beavailable.

[0035] A third exemplary embodiment of package 10 is illustrated incross-section in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, a container or package 90is formed from a pair of flexible sheets including a container basesheet 92 and a cover sheet 94. Sheets 92 and 94 are flexible materialsthat are connected along a perimeter seal 96 to form an internal cavity98.

[0036] Disposed within internal cavity 98 is a contact lens 100 and ahydrophilic member 102. Preferably, hydrophilic member 102 is wettedwith an appropriate liquid 104, such as a buffered saline-basedsolution. Contact lens 100 preferably is disposed adjacent hydrophilicmember 102 and is maintained in a moist and usable condition.

[0037] Optionally, a second hydrophilic member 106, shown in dashedlines, may be added to contact the contact lens 100 on an opposingsurface relative to hydrophilic member 102. Hydrophilic member 102 andsecond hydrophilic member 106 may have contoured surfaces to match thegeneral contour of contact lens 100. Additionally, hydrophilic member102 and second hydrophilic member 106 preferably are formed from asponge material, such as the Merocel™ sponge material described above.

[0038] Regardless of the specific configuration of package 10, 50, 90,the use of the hydrophilic member permits construction of a smallerpackage that contains very little and preferably no free-flowing liquid.This permits the “dry” packaging and storage of contact lenses, andavoids the added container volume, container weight and potential messnecessitated by conventional containers that hold the contact lens in asubmerged or at least semi-submerged state within a reservoir of liquid.

[0039] It will be understood that the foregoing description is ofpreferred embodiments of this invention, and that the invention is notlimited to the specific forms shown. For example, a variety of materialsmay be used in construction of the packaging; a variety of hydrophilicmember configurations may be utilized, depending on the package and thedesired functionality; different liquids may be used to wet thehydrophilic member; and the hydrophilic member may be positioned in avariety of locations to facilitate retrieval and/or application of thecontact lens. These and other modifications may be made in the designand arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A package for holding a contact lens over aperiod of time without permitting dehydration of the contact lens,comprising: a container base having a substantially dry cavity; ahydrophilic fixation member disposed in the substantially dry cavity; acontact lens disposed in the substantially dry cavity; and a coverdisposed over the substantially dry cavity to enclose the hydrophilicfixation member and the contact lens therein, wherein the hydrophilicfixation member is wetted with a liquid.
 2. The package as recited inclaim 1 , wherein the contact lens is a soft contact lens.
 3. Thepackage as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic fixation membercomprises a sponge material.
 4. The package as recited in claim 3 ,wherein the sponge material comprises a Merocel™ sponge material.
 5. Thepackage as recited in claim 3 , wherein the sponge material is fixed ata specific location within the substantially dry cavity.
 6. The packageas recited in claim 5 , further comprising an upper sponge materialaffixed to the cover such that the contact lens is sandwiched betweenthe sponge material and the upper sponge material to create a frictionalcleaning of the contact lens.
 7. The package as recited in claim 3 ,wherein the liquid comprises a saline-based solution.
 8. The package asrecited in claim 3 , wherein the cover comprises a peel-away cover. 9.The package as recited in claim 3 , wherein the cover is threadablyengaged with the container.
 10. A contact lens container system formaintain a contact lens in a usable state during a period of storage,comprising: a sealed container having an internal cavity; a hydrophilicmember disposed in the internal cavity; a contact lens disposed in theinternal cavity; and a moistening agent applied to the hydrophilicmember.
 11. The contact lens container system as recited in claim 10 ,wherein the hydrophilic member comprises a sponge material.
 12. Thecontact lens container system as recited in claim 11 , wherein thesponge material is a Merocel™ material.
 13. The contact lens containersystem as recited in claim 10 , wherein the hydrophilic member isaffixed to the sealed container at a location selected to preventmovement of the contact lens in the internal cavity.
 14. The contactlens container system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the moisteningagent is applied to the hydrophilic member in an amount that is readilyretained by the hydrophilic member to prevent the occurrence offree-flowing liquid within the internal cavity.
 15. The contact lenscontainer system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a cleaningmaterial to clean the contact lens, wherein the cleaning material isheld by the sealed container.
 16. The contact lens container system asrecited in claim 15 , wherein the cleaning material comprises a sheet ofMerocel™ sponge material.
 17. A method for storing a contact lens,comprising: preparing a container with a cavity of sufficient size toreceive a contact lens; placing a moisture absorbent member in thecavity; moistening the moisture absorbent member; and enclosing thecontact lens within the cavity.
 18. The method as recited in claim 17 ,wherein placing comprises affixing a sponge to the container.
 19. Themethod as recited in claim 18 , further comprising fixating the contactlens at a desired location and in a desired contour.
 20. The method asrecited in claim 19 , further comprising maintaining the cavity in asubstantially dry state.
 21. The method as recited in claim 20 , furthercomprising forming the sponge from a Merocel™ material.
 22. The methodas recited in claim 20 , wherein preparing includes attaching a cover toa base container to seal the contact lens within the cavity.
 23. Themethod as recited in claim 18 , further comprising rubbing the contactlens against the sponge to clean the contact lens.
 24. A contact lenscontainer system, comprising: a container having at least one internalcavity; a contact lens disposed in the at least one internal cavity; anda contact lens cleaner formed from a sponge material and disposed in theat least one internal cavity.
 25. The contact lens container system asrecited in claim 24 , wherein the contact lens cleaner is formed from asheet of Merocel™ sponge material.
 26. The contact lens container systemas recited in claim 25 , wherein the at least one internal cavityincludes a first cavity for receiving the contact lens and a secondcavity for receiving the sheet of Merocel™ sponge material.